Automobile-bumper.



T. A. HOOVER. AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1915- Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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- application filed November 3, 1915. Serial No. 59,367.

proper constituting a spring in itself. This provision I regard as a great essential in the .uiaking of a practical bumper, since it dispenses with the placing of a spring adjunct 60 at certain points, as provided for in other bumpers.

The bumper is supported iron 1,01" att-aclied to the vehicle frame by any appropr'iate means. Inasmuch however, as cars 65 of dilierent makes and styles vary in con struetion, and especially as to the distance projections 10 to which To all whom it may; concern.

Be it known that l, Tirontas A. Hooves, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Automobile-Bu1npers, or" which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bumpers or guards for the protection of the front and rear of automobiles and vehicles in general.

The object of this invention is to provide a bumper or fender that will be simple in construction, cheap in manufacture, efficient and durable in operation and made oi material that will permit of its yielding with springy 'motion from any point of impac from which a jarring force would act between the frame the bumper is usually attached, it is highl important that means be provided for at- 70 taching the bumper to the car so as to adapt the bumper to any car. In other words, to standardize production and to enable these upon it.

Another object in this invention is to provide a bumper graceful in outline and proportion and easy to nickel or brass plate.

A further object is to provide a bumper readily applicable to any make or size of car.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective of the front end of an automobile, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bumper. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing one form of supporting bracket. Fig. 4.- is a similar view, showing another form of bracket.

The invention in actual practice comprises two bars 23 of spring steel 2 inches wide and one-quarter of an inch thick, and having a face frontage length of approximately 60 inches. The two bars are parallel to each other with one inch space between, to within 12 inches of each end where they come together in a crescent-shaped horn 4; the two bars meeting face to face and being riveted together by oval or half-oval headed rivets 5 and oval washers 6. The half oval heads and washers are of the width of the face of the bumper, that 1s, 2 Inches. The

ends of the riveted. bar members are trusscd round thus giving a very ornamental finish. The bars are also riveted in the center by two rivets 7 and tube bushings 8, through which the rivet is inserted. These rivets are about 14- inches apart and have halt' oval heads and washers. This bumper as shown, by reason of the situation of material forming its parts and the character or method of construction, combines all the. essentials ol a spring,- the two parts forming the bumper to substantial U-shape bumper and the frame bumpers to be made up in quantity and carried in stock, it is essential that the attaching means for. the bumper to the frame be readily adjustable. erably employ a pair oi -adjustable brackets, as 11, Fig. 3, or 11 of Fig. 3 comprise a pair of malleable castings, the outer ends of which are flanged as at 12, to receive a U-shaped clamp bolt 13 adapted to embrace the inner bar 3 of the bumper. The other end of the bracket is provided witha curved seat to fit the frame projection 10 and to thereto by the U clip 14. Usually the brackets 11 are attached to the frame first and then the bumper is easily adjusted to the brackets. If it is desired to give additional yield to the bumper I may steel brackets, as 11, Fig. 4, which are bent and secured to the in the manner just described. The bumper thus construciied is made up in quantity and carried in stock; the detached brackets serving the purpose of adapting the bumper to any make or style r size of machine. This is a great advantage both to the manufacturer and user, as well as to the dealer. Heretofore it'has required a different bumper for every make and size of car, thereby adding to the cost and causing delay and annoyance where abumper suited to the particular need of a customer, could not on demand.

The construction of the present bumper produces a. rigid, substantial structure,

which at the same time is flexible at prac ticallv any point along its face. It is furthermore, cheap to manufacture and can be' As here shown, I pref Fig. 4. The brackets be removably secured employ spring I be quickly supplied quicklyettached to either'form of bracket shown. The rivets employed in the outer ends of the springs, together with those passing through the bushings 6, are preferably oval in shape, and are of a diameter sufficiently large to produce an ornamental efi'ect. The bumper as a Whole is therefore, artistic in design and shape and is not only an effective guard or fender, but also is an ornamental attachment to any machine. The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are otherwise such as the judgment and experience of the manufacturer may dictate.

It is to be understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, What l, claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. A spring bumper embodying a pair of continuous spaced spring members set on edge and connected at their ends, a pair of spacing means between the spring members arranged on opposite sides of the centers of the spring memhers,'end brackets connected to the rear spring member and beyond the outer sides of the spacing means for supporting the bumper from a motor vehicle.

2. A bumper comprising a front spring bar and arear spring bar disposed parallel with each other and in a horizontal plane, their terminals beingrearwardly directed and secured at their extreme ends by horizontal rivets headed on the forward and rear faces of the front and rear bars respec tively, and spaced means for mounting the bars on a vehicle, said means being, secured to the rear bar between its ends.

3. A bumper comprising a front spring bar and a rear bar disposed in parallelism,

spacers for the bars interposed between the s 1 same at spaced points, and a pair of brackets rcinovably embracing the rear bar udja cent each spacer whereby the latter Will serve as a stop to limit the rear bar from sliding in the brackets should the latter be come loosened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses THOMAS A. HOOVER.

Witnesses:

E. Srinnescs. 

